University  of  California  •  Berkeley 
From  the  papers  of 

WILLIAM  MCDEVITT 


History  of  Wyoming 

AND 

(The  Far  West) 


Embracing  an  Account  of  the  Spanish,  Canadian 

and  American  Explorations;  the  Experiences 

and  Adventures  of  Trappers  and  Traders 

in  the  Early  Days;  Including  Events  of 

the  Oregon  Emigration,  the  Mormon 

Movement  and   Settlements,    the 

Indian   Tribes,    their   Manners 

and  Customs,  and  their  Wars 

and    Depredations   on  the 

Overland  Trail,  etc.,  etc. 


INTERSPERSED    WITH 

Personal  Reminiscences  of  Pioneers 
With  Numerous  Engravings 


BY 

Dr.  C.  G.  Coutant 


IMPORTANT  ANNOUNCEMENT 

To  Librarians  and  Collectors:  An  Unknown  History 
of  the  West,  by  an  Eminent  Authority,  printed  some 
fifteen  years  ago,  has  just  been  discovered. 

This  work  is  of  the  highest  importance  to  all  students 
of  Western  History,  and  must  form  a  necessary  part  of 
any  collection  relating  to  the  Early  History,  Explora- 
tion and  Development  of  these  Vast  Regions. 

The  Author  spent  a  life-time  in  gathering  his  ma- 
terials, in  the  sifting  of  Early  Narratives  and  Manu- 
scripts and  in  collecting  from  remaining  Pioneers,  per- 
sonal accounts  of  adventure  and  experience  during  the 
"Early  Day." 

The  book  is  an  Octavo,  of  712  pages,  substantially 
bound,  illustrated  with  2  maps  and  76  portraits  and 
views,  many  of  wMch  are  Rare,  and  secured,  as  the 
author  states,  with  great  difficulty. 

An  examination  of  the  following  pages,  in  which  we 
give  the  Contents  of  this  volume,  will  show  in  the  fewest 
possible  words,  its  character,  scope  and  importance. 


History  of  Wyoming 

(and  the  Far  West) 

By 
C.  G.  Coutant 


CONTENTS 

CHAPTER   I 

PAGE 
Introductory  Remarks   17 

Grand  Possibilities — Mineral  Wealth — Backbone  of 
the  Continent — Fountain  Head  of  Mighty  Rivers — 
Boundaries — Names  of  Rivers  and  Mountains. 

CHAPTER  II 

Spanish  Occupation    23 

The  Claims  of  the  Spaniards  Regarding  the  North- 
wesV-What  Different  Writers  Say— Where  Did  the  White 
Blood  of  the  Mandans  Come  From? — Relics  of  Iron 
Tools  Found  in  Northern  Wyoming  and  Montana — Evi- 
dences of  Mining  and  Agriculture  Carried  on  Probably  in 
the  Seventeenth  Century — The  Subject  Referred  to  Fu- 
ture Historians. 

CHAPTER  III 

French  Canadian  Explorations   33 

The  De  la  Verendryes  Lead  an  Expedition  from  Can- 
ada to  the  Headwaters  of  the  Mississippi  Across  to  the 
Missouri  into  the  Yellowstone  and  Wind  River  Countries — 
Turned  Back  by  the  Shoshones,  Who  Persuade  the  Ex- 
plorers That  They  Will  be  Killed  by  the  Sioux  at  South 
Pass — Eleven  Years  Spent  in  the  Wilderness — Return  to 
Montreal — Second  Expedition  Is  Prevented  by  the  Death 
of  De  la  Verendrye — Unprincipled  Politicians  Rob  the  De 
la  Verendrye  Family  and  Get  Their  Hands  in  the  Coffers 
of  the  King — Fur  Trade  Under  English  Ownership  of 
Canada —  American  Revolution  Leads  to  Great  Changes 
in  the  Fur  Trade. 


4  HUDSON  BOOK  CO. 

CHAPTER  IV 
The  First  American  Explorers 43 

History  of  Western  Course  of  Empire — Thomas 
Jefferson  Becomes  a  Leader  and  Finally  Succeeds  in  His 
Cherished  Scheme  of  Sending  Expeditions  up  the  Head- 
waters of  the  Missouri  to  Search  For  a  Gateway  Through 
the  Rocky  Mountains — The  Lewis  and  Clark  Expedition — 
They  Winter  at  the  Mandan  Village  on  the  Upper  Missouri 
in  1804— In  1805  Spend  the  Winter  at  the  mouth  of  the 
Columbia — Return  to  St.  Louis  in  1806. 

CHAPTER  V 

The  Famous  John  Colter   61 

The  First  American  to  Enter  Wyoming — A  Member 
of  the  Lewis  and  Clark  Expedition — Remains  in  the  Vicin- 
ity of  the  Yellowstone  From  1806  to  1810— He  Traps 
Along  the  Big  Horn,  Big  Wind  River,  and  Crosses  the 
Range  to  the  Pacific  Slope  in  1807 — Returns  by  the  Way 
of  the  Yellowstone  National  Park,  of  Which  He  Was  the 
Discoverer — His  Adventure  With  the  Blackfeet — A  Race 
for  Life — Relates  His  Story  to  Captain  Clark,  Bradbury 
and  Others. 

CHAPTER  VI 

Ezekiel  Williams'  Party   70 

They  Follow  Up  the  Yellowstone  and  are  Attacked  by 
Blackfeet — Cross  Over  to  the  Big  Horn  and  go  South — 
Reach  the  Sweetwater — Another  Attack  by  Indians — Re- 
treat South  Across  the  Laramie  Plains  and  Reach  the 
Headwaters  of  the  South  Platte — Comanches  Attack  the 
Party  and  Kill  all  But  Three— Williams  Returns  to  St. 
Louis  and  the  Two  Others  go  to  Southern  California — 
The  Leader  Again  Visits  the  Sweetwater  in  1809. 

CHAPTER  VII 

The  Astoria  Expedition 74 

The  Tonquin  Sails  For  the  Mouth  of  the  Columbia — 
Wilson  P.  Hunt  Organizes  a  Land  Expedition  and  Goes 
up  the  Missouri — The  Party  Reaches  the  Country  Which 
Is  Now  Wyoming — Numerous  Attempts  Made  to  Cross  the 
Big  Horn  Mountains — Finally  Ascend  the  Middle  Fork  of 
the  Powder  River  and  Reach  the  No  Wood — Journey  Up 
the  Big  Horn  and  Big  Wind  Rivers — Cross  Sheridan 
Pass  to  the  Headwaters  of  Green  River — First  View  of 
the  Grand  Tetons — Crossing  the  Green  River  Valley — 
They  Reach  the  Headwaters  of  the  Columbia. 


862  HEWITT  PLACE,  NEW  YORK  CITY  5 

CHAPTER  VIII 

Astorians    (Continued)    85 

Hunt  and  His  Party  Follow  Down  the  Mad  (Snake) 
River — They  Reach  Henry's  Fort — Build  Canoes  and  At- 
tempt the  Further  Journey  by  Water — Three  Hundred 
and  Forty  Miles  Below  Again  Take  to  the  Land — Great 
Suffering  of  the  Party  Through  Hunger  and  Cold — At 
Last  Reach  the  Falls  of  the  Columbia — Balance  of  the 
Journey  Made  by  Canoes — Arrival  at  Astoria. 

CHAPTER  IX 

Conditions  at  Astoria 91 

Arrival  of  the  Tonquin — David  Stuart's  Expedition  to 
Establish  a  New  Trading  Post — David  Thompson,  of  the 
Northwest  Company,  Comes  Down  the  Columbia  to  Plant 
the  British  Flag  at  the  Mouth  of  that  River,  But  Is  Too 
Late — Disaster  to  the  Tonquin  and  the  Murder  of  Her 
Crew  by  Indians — Mr.  Lewis'  Terrible  Revenge — Indians 
at  Astoria  Held  in  Check  by  Threats  of  Spreading  Small- 
pox Among  Them — Arrival  of  the  Beaver  From  New  York 
— Departure  of  Hunt  For  New  Archangel  and  the  Sand- 
wich Islands — Treachery  of  McDougal — Abandonment  of 
Astoria. 

CHAPTER  X 

Great  Overland  Trail  Discovered 101 

Robert  Stuart  and  His  Little  Band  of  Six  Pass 
Around  the  South  End  of  the  Wind  River  Range  during 
the  Early  Winter  of  1812 — Discovery  of  the  Sweetwater 
River  and  Passage  Down  That  Stream — They  Camp  at 
Bessemer  for  the  Winter — Leave  Their  Winter  Camp  For 
Fear  of  Indians — Great  Suffering  of  the  Party  as  They 
Journey  Down  the  Platte — Discovery  of  the  Platte  River 
Canon — Second  Winter  Encampment — Journey  Down  the 
River  in  the  Spring  of  1813. 

CHAPTER  XI 

Ashley's   Trappers    119 

Trapping  on  the  Yellowstone,  Big  Horn,  Big  Wind, 
and  Other  Sources  of  the  Missouri — Names  the  Sweet- 
water  and  Changes  the  Name  Spanish  River  to  Green 
River — Employs  Over  Three  Hundred  Trappers — His  Ex- 
pedition to  Salt  Lake — Marvelous  Success  As  a  Fur 
Trader — Makes  a  Fortune  and  Sells  Out  to  Sublette, 
Campbell,  Bridger  and  Others — His  Speech  to  the  Moun- 
tain Men — Changes  the  Character  of  the  Trapper  by 


6  HUDSON  BOOK  CO. 

Mounting  Him  on  Horseback — A  Lifelong  Personal  Friend 
of  Every  Trapper  Who  Shared  With  Him  the  Dangers  of 
the  Mountains — Author's  Tribute  to  the  American 
Trapper. 

CHAPTER  XII 
Fur  Trappers  and  Traders  130 

Captain  William  Sublette  Succeeds  General  Ashley — 
He  Organizes  the  Rocky  Mountain  Fur  Company  With 
Jedediah  S.  Smith,  David  E.  Jackson  and  Others  as  Part- 
ners— Brilliant  Campaign  Planned  and  Carried  Out — 
Names  Jackson's  Hole  and  Lake — Introduces  Wagons  Into 
the  Service  in  Wyoming — Captain  Nathaniel  J.  Wyeth — 
Battle  of  Pierre's  Hole — Death  of  Vanderberg — Bridger's 
Affair  With  the  Chief  of  the'  Blackfeet— Success  Attends 
the  Fur  Trade. 

CHAPTER  XIII 

Captain  Bonneville  148 

Leaves  Fort  Osage  With  Twenty  Wagons  and  One 
Hundred  and  Ten  Men — Reaches  the  Platte  River  Below 
Grand  Island— Scott's  Bluffs  and  Origin  of  the  Name — 
Follows  the  North  Fork  of  the  Platte — Crosses  Over  to 
the  Sweetwater — Experience  of  Tom  Cain — Rejoicings 
After  Crossing  the  Continental  Divide — Fontenelle  Over- 
takes the  Bonneville  Party — Arrival  at  Green  River — 
Fortifies  His  Camp — Free  Trappers  Visited  by  Blackfeet. 

CHAPTER  XIV 

Bonneville  Sends  Out  His  Trappers 157 

Various  Detachments  in  the  Field — Main  Party  Pass 
Through  Jackson's  Hole  and  Pierre's  Hole  on  the  Way  to 
Solomon  River — Meets  the  Nez  Perces — His  Opinion  of 
This  Tribe — Experiences  During  the  Winter — Rendezvous 
on  Green  River  in  1833 — Stories  of  His  Several  Leaders — 
Scenes  at  the  Rendezvous — A  Digression  by  the  Author, 
in  Which  He  Tells  of  the  Relations  Between  Captain 
Bonneville  and  Washington  Irving — Valuable  Services 
Rendered  the  Government. 

CHAPTER  XV 

Bonneville  Leaves  Wyoming 171 

Furs  Collected,  Convoyed  to  the  Big  Horn  and  Shipped 
by  Bull  Boats — Interesting  Incidents  of  the  Journey  North 
—Discovery  of  the  Great  Tar  Spring — Dangers  and  Diffi- 
culties of  the  Return  Trip — Discovery  of  the  Big  Hot 
Spring  Near  the  Present  Site  of  Fort  Washakie — Captain 


862  HEWITT  PLACE,  NEW  YORK  CITY  7 

Bonneville  Attempts  to  Work  His  Way  Through  the  Wind 
River  Range — Ascent  of  Mount  Bonneville — Toilsome 
Journey — Discovers  a  Community  of  Beavers — Returns 
to  His  Caches  on  Green  River  by  Way  of  South  Pass — 
Crosses  the  Wind  River  Range  at  the  Head  of  Green 
River — Many  Incidents  of  His  Second  Journey  to  the 
Columbia — Last  Winter  in  the  Mountains — Rendezvous 
in  the  Wind  River  Valley — Returns  to  Civilization. 

CHAPTER  XVI 

Sketches  of  Trappers  and  Traders 188 

Trappers  First  Permanent  Settlers  in  Wyoming — 
Personal  Mention  of  Jim.  Beckwourth — Nathaniel  J. 
Wyeth — James  Bridger — Kit  Carson — Jedediah  S.  Smith 
— Joshua  Pilcher — George  W.  Ebberts — Robert  Newell — 
Captain  William  Sublette — Thomas  Fitzpatrick — Frapp — 
Jervaise — Fontenelle — Jennings — LeRoy — Ross — Sinclair 
Brothers — Dripps — Vasques — Goodale — Pappen — Tulleck. 

CHAPTER  XVII 

Opening  of  First  Highway— 1835-1843   207 

The  Missionaries,  Parker  and  Whitman,  Pass  Up  the 
Platte,  Sweetwater,  and  Reach  Green  River — Dr.  Whit- 
man Returns  to  the  States — A  Romantic  Wedding  Tour — 
First  Two  White  Women  in  Wyoming — Remarkable 
Fourth  of  July  Celebration  at  South  Pass — Grand  Recep- 
tion Given  the  Pioneer  Women  at  Green  River — Arrival 
in  Oregon — Perilous  Ride  of  Dr.  Whitman — Passes 
Through  Wyoming  With  a  Thousand  Settlers — The  Indian 
Massacre — The  Hero  of  Western  Civilization. 

CHAPTER  XVIII 

Father  Peter  De  Smet 229 

His  Arrival  in  Wyoming  and  Passes  Up  the  North 
Platte  and  Sweetwater— The  Flatheads  Meet  Him  at 
Green  River — Wonderful  Interest  Shown  by  the  Indians 
In  This  Priest — He  Tells  of  His  Experiences  and  Future 
Labors — Many  Visits  to  Wyoming — Incident  Among  the 
Crows — Supposed  Knowledge  of  Gold  in  the  Big  Horn 
Mountains — His  Death  at  St.  Louis — What  Is  Thought  of 
Father  DeSmet  in  Wyoming. 

CHAPTER  XIX 

Fremont's  Explorations  238 

The  First  Military  Expedition  to  Visit  Our  State — 
The  Main  Detachment  Follows  the  North  Platte  to  Fort 


8  HUDSON  BOOK  CO. 

Laramie — Fremont,  With  a  Small  Party,  Visits  Fort  St. 
Vrain  and  Passes  North  to  Fort  Laramie — Description 
of  the  Fort  as  It  Appeared  in  1842 — Indians  Invite  Them 
to  Partake  of  a  Dog  Feast — Indian  Chiefs  Warn  the  Party 
that  if  They  Go  Further  West,  They  Will  Be  Killed— 
Fremont's  Speech  of  Defiance — Expedition  Goes  For- 
ward— Observations  Regarding  Formations,  Soils,  Cli- 
mate, Etc. 

CHAPTER  XX 

Fremont's  Explorations    (Continued)    255 

Meets  a  Band  of  Ogalalla  Sioux — Discouraging  Re- 
ports of  the  Condition  of  the  Country — Severe  Drought 
and  a  Grasshopper  Plague — Advised  to  Give  up  the  Ex- 
pedition— Boldly  Pushes  Forward — Journey  Up  the  Sweet- 
water — Crosses  South  Pass — Penetrates  the  Wind  River 
Range — Climbs  Fremont's  Peak — The  Return  Journey — 
Engraves  a  Cross  on  Independence  Rock — More  Carefully 
Explores  the  North  Platte — Returns  to  Fort  Laranpe — 
Follows  the  Platte  to  the  Missouri — Goes  Down  the  Miss- 
ouri in  a  Ten-Oared  Boat — Arrives  at  St.  Louis. 

CHAPTER  XXI 
Fremont's  Second  Expedition   274 

The  Start  From  the  Missouri — Follow  the  Kansas 
River — Command  Divided — Explorations  in  Colorado — 
Two  Divisions  Meet  at  Fort  St.  Vrain — Twenty-Five  Men 
With  the  Baggage  Go  By  Way  of  Fort  Laramie  to  Fort 
Hall — Fremont  and  Thirteen  Men  Explore  Laramie  Plains 
and  Proceed  Westward  to  Eastern  Rim  of  Red  Desert — 
Proceed  North  to  Sweetwater — Journey  to  Bear  River — 
Explore  Great  Salt  Lake — Join  Balance  of  Command  at 
Fort  Hall — Explorations  in  Oregon — Winter  Campaign  in 
the  Mountains  of  California — Third  Exploring  Expedition 
and  Experiences  in  California — Fourth  Exploring  Ex- 
pedition— Great  Suffering  of  the  Party  and  Eleven 
Deaths — Fremont's  Public  Services. 

CHAPTER  XXII 

Discoveries  in  Yellowstone  Park 286 

Joseph  Meek  Strays  Into  the  Park  in  1829  and  Tells 
What  He  Saw— An  Unknown  Explorer  in  1833  Writes  the 
First  Description  of  Geysers — Jim  Bridger  in  1850  Takes 
His  Friends  to  See  the  Curiosities  at  the  Head  of  the 
Yellowstone,  Which  He  Had  Been  Telling  About  for 
Twenty-five  Years — Reynolds'  Expedition  in  1860  Is  Pre- 
vented by  Deep  Snow  From  Entering  the  Geyser  Coun- 


862  HEWITT  PLACE,  NEW  YORK  CITY  g 

try — Numerous  Prospectors  See  the  Thermal  Springs 
and  Geysers — The  Folsom  Expedition  of  1869 — Organiza- 
tion of  the  Washburn  Expedition  in  1870. 

CHAPTER  XXIII 

History  of  Fort  Laramie   296 

A  Noted  Post  in  the  Wilderness — Story  of  Jacques 
Laramie — Naming  Laramie  River — Robert  Campbell 
Builds  Fort  William — Name  Changed  to  Fort  Laramie — 
Purchased  by  Milton  Sublette,  Jim  Bridger  and  others — 
Sold  to  American  Fur  Company — Becomes  the  Capital 
of  the  Wilderness — Palmy  Days  at  the  Old  Trading  Post — 
Important  Station  on  the  Overland  Trail — Closing  Days  of 
the  Fur  Traders  at  Fort  Laramie. 

CHAPTER  XXIV 

History  of  Fort  Laramie  (Continued)   310 

Purchase  of  Fort  Laramie  by  United  States  Govern- 
ment— The  Price  Paid — The  First  Garrison — Reinforce- 
ments— Rebuilding  of  the  Fort — Scurvy  Attacks  the 
Soldiers — Cholera  at  Scott's  Bluffs — Captain  Ketchum  Re- 
lieves Major  Sanderson  as  Commander — American  Fur 
Company  Retires  Down  the  River  to  Scott's  Bluffs — Emi- 
grant Trains — Indians  for  the  Most  Part  Peaceable — 
Valuable  Services  of  American  Fur  Company  to  Emi- 
grants— Treaty  of  1851. 

CHAPTER  XXV 

History  of  Fort  Laramie  (Continued)    320 

Unpleasant  Side  of  the  Service  at  Fort  Laramie — 
Shut  up  in  the  Wilderness — Gloom  and  Despondency — 
Insolent  Savages — Indians  Severely  Punished — Lieuten- 
ant Grattan  and  Thirty  Soldiers  Massacred — Sioux  Tribes 
on  the  War  Path — Fort  Laramie  Reinforced — Major  Hoff- 
man Takes  Command — The  Sioux  Make  War  on  Emigrant 
Trains — Sir  George  Gore's  Hunting  Expedition — Bridger 
Becomes  Guide — Terrible  Conditions  Along  the  Overland 
Trail — Government  Urged  to  Protect  Emigrants — War 
Department  Aroused  at  Last. 

CHAPTER  XXVI 

The  Oregon  Emigration    330 

Dr.  Elijah  White's  Train  of  1842— Trials  and  Tribu- 
lations by  the  Way — Fitzpatrick  the  Guide — Emigrants 
of  1844 — Extravagant  Prices  at  Fort  Laramie  That 
Year — One  Thousand  Four  Hundred  and  Seventy-five 
People  Go  to  Oregon  in  1844 — Senator  Benton's  Prophecy 


10  HUDSON  BOOK  CO. 

— The  Business  of  the  Trail  in  1845 — The  Rush  in  1846 — 
Indians  Say  White  Men  Are  as  Numerous  as  the  Leaves 
of  the  Forest — Scenes  at  Fort  Laramie — Increasing  Emi- 
gration of  1847-8 — The  "Days  of  Forty-Nine." 

CHAPTER  XXVII 

Mormon   Emigration    340 

Brigham  Young's  Pioneer  Train — An  Incident  on  the 
Eastern  Border  of  Wyoming — Arrival  at  Fort  Laramie — 
Crossing  the  Platte  Above  Caspar  With  Boats  and  Rafts — 
The  Train  Crosses  South  Pass — Reaches  the  Big  Sandy 
and  Green  River — Jim  Bridger  Meets  Brigham  Young — 
The  Stop  at  Fort  Bridger — Train  Passes  Out  of  Wyom- 
ing— Arrival  in  Salt  Lake  Valley — Incidents  Connected 
with  the  Mormon  Settlement — Character  of  Brigham 
Young. 

CHAPTER  XXVIII 

History  of  Fort  Bridger  349 

First  a  Trappers'  and  Traders'  Rendezvous — 
Bridger  Builds  a  Block  House — The  Bridger  and  Vas- 
quez  Partnership  The  Mormons  Settle  Around  the  Fort 
In  1853 — Rebuilt  in  1855 — Occupied  by  Government 
Troops,  Winter  of  1857-8 — Troops  on  Short  Rations — 
Captain  Marcy's  Winter  Journey — Fort  Rebuilt  by  the 
Government — Practically  Abandoned  in  1861 — Judge 
Carter  Organizes  a  Company  of  Mountineers  to  Garrison 
the  Fort — California  and  Nevada  Volunteers  Occupy  the 
Post  From  1862  to  1866 — Arrival  of  United  States  Troops 
to  Replace  Volunteers — Troops  Protect  Overland  Stages 
and  Engineers  of  Union  Pacific  Railway — Abandoned  in 
1890. 

CHAPTER  XXIX 

Events  on  the  Overland   359 

What  Came  of  Fremont's  Explorations — Hockaday 
and  Liggett's  Monthly  Stage  from  the  Missouri  to  Salt 
Lake — Fort  Kearney,  South  Pass  and  Honey  Lake  Wagon 
Road — Winter  Camp  in  the  Wind  River  Valley — Colonel 
F.  W.  Lander  and  the  Shoshone  Indians — Russell,  Majors 
and  Waddell,  the  Freighters— Daily  Stage  Line— The 
Pony  Express — Fight  Between  the  Shoshones  and 
Sioux — War  Chief  Washakie's  Eldest  Son — Construction 
of  the  Telegraph  Line. 

CHAPTER  XXX 

Changing  the  Overland  Trail  374 

Ben  Holliday  Becomes  Proprietor  of  the  Stage  Line — 
Shoshones  Capture  all  the  Horses  For  a  Distance  of 


862  HEWITT  PLACE,  NEW  YORK  CITY  j  i 

200  Miles — The  Mormon  Battalion — Arrival  of  Volunteer 
Troops — The  Emigrant  Road  Expedition — Colonel  P. 
Edward  Connor  Takes  Charge  of  the  Military  District  of 
Utah — Fort  Douglass  Located — Fort  Bridger  Garrisoned 
— Mormon  Effort  to  Have  Troops  Removed  From  Fort 
Douglass — Colonel  Connor's  Letter  to  the  War  Depart- 
ment— Removal  of  the  State  to  the  Laramie  Plains  and 
Bridger  Pass  Route — Whiskey  Gap  Named — Thorough 
Equipment  of  the  Holliday  Line. 

CHAPTia..,  XXXI 

Indian  Depredations  on  the  Overland 390 

Colonel  Connor's  Winter  Campaign — Battle  of  Bear 
River — Two  Hundred  and  Twenty-Four  Indians  Killed — 
Colonel  Connor  Made  a  Brigadier  General — Southern 
Utes  Go  on  the  War  Path — Additional  Troops  Asked 
For — General  Connor  Makes  a  Statement  to  the  War  De- 
partment Regarding  the  Mormons — Major  Wynkoop 
Ordered  to  the  Overland  Trail — Hostiles  Attack  Sweet- 
water  Station — Utes  Attack  Stage  Station  on  Laramine 
Plains — The  Bannocks  and  Snakes  Want  Peace — Wyom- 
ing Attached  to  the  Military  District  of  Colorado — Utes 
Sue  for  Peace  in  Utah — The  Career  of  the  Notorious 
Joseph  A.  Slade  in  Wyoming — His  Execution  by  Vigilan- 
tes in  Montana. 

CHAPTER  XXXII 

Indian  Troubles  on  the  Overland 406 

Events  of  1864 — A  Glance  Backward — The  Crow 
Country— The  Crow  Character— What  Robert  Campbell 
Says  of  Them — The  Bozeman  Road — The  Man  Who  Laid 
It  Out  and  His  Death — Overland  Stage  Company  Com- 
plains— General  Connor's  Policy  With  the  Indians  Suc- 
cessful— Return  of  Stolen  Property — General  Connor 
Ordered  to  Protect  the  Overland  From  Salt  Lake  to  Fort 
Kearney — Mormons  Attempt  to  Have  Camp  Douglass 
Removed — General  Connor's  Trouble  With  the  Mormons — 
The  Outlook  for  1865. 

CHAPTER  XXXIII 

The  Bloody  Year  on  the  Plains 422 

Indians  Become  Experts  in  Killing  and  Robbing — 
Hostilities  Open  on  January  7 — Captain  O'Brien's  Des- 
perate Fight  Against  Overwhelming  Numbers — The 
Burning  of  Julesburg  Station — The  Attack  on  Mud 
Springs  Station — Colonel  Collins  Brings  Relief — Fight 
at  Rush  Creek — Destruction  of  the  Telegraph  Line — 
Colonel  Collins  Returns  to  Fort  Laramie — His  Recommen- 
dations to  the  Government — Organization  of  the  Depart- 


12  HUDSON  BOOK  CO. 

ment  of  the  Plains — General  Connor  Placed  in  Command 
— Indians  Attack  Deer  Creek  Station — Colonel  Moon- 
light's Expedition  to  Wind  River — Renewed  Trouble  at 
Julesburg — Capture  of  Two  Face  and  Blackfoot — Their 
Execution  at  Fort  Laramie — Rescue  of  Mrs.  Eubanks — 
..The  Schuyler  Coif  ax  Party. 

CHAPTER  XXXIV 

The  Bloody  Year  on  the  Plains  (Continued)   445 

Headquarters  Removed  From  Denver  to  Julesburg — 
Colonel  Moonlight  Places  Additional  Troops  on  the  Tele- 
graph Line — District  Inspectors  Appointed — Command- 
ers of  the  Different  Posts — Indians  Attack  Rock  Ridge 
and  Sweetwater  Stations — Attack  and  Burning  of  St. 
Mary's  Station — Affair  at  Platte  Bridge — Trouble  at  Sage 
Creek,  Pine  Grove  and  Bridge  Pass  Stations — Second  At- 
tack on  Sage  Creek  Station — The  Stage  Company  Refuses 
to  Run  Coaches — Soldiers  Mutiny — So-Called  Friendly  In- 
dians Mutiny — Colonel  Moonlight's  Troubles — General  Con- 
nor Getting  Ready  For  a  Campaign  on  Powder  River — 
Troops  Delayed  By  Bad  Roads — Additional  Troubles  on 
the  Telegraph  Line  and  the  Stage  Route  Across  Laramie 
Plains — Niobrara  and  Montana  Wagon  Road. 

CHAPTER  XXXV 

The  Bloody  Year  on  the  Plains  (Continued)    469 

The  Massaacre  at  Platt  Bridge — Lieutenant  Caspar 
W.  Collings  Goes  Out  to  Insure  the  Safety  of  a  Wagon 
Train  and  Is  Killed  Together  With  Eight  of  His  Men  and 
Seven  More  Wounded — Twenty-One  Men  Belonging  to  the 
Wagon  Train  Are  All  Killed  But  Three— Three  Thousand 
Indians  Threaten  Platte  Bridge — How  Fort  Caspar  Re- 
ceived Its  Name — Able  Letter  on  the  Indian  Question  by 
Major  General  John  Pope — Indian  Affairs  Discussed  by 
the  Author — Mistakes  Made  by  the  Government  in  the 
Management  of  the  Indians — General  Connor  Is  Given  a 
New  Command — General  Wheaton  Assumes  Command  of 
The  District  of  Nebraska,  With  Headquarters  at  Fort 
Laramie — Reduction  of  the  Army  on  the  Plains — Its 
Effect  on  the  Savages — The  Much  Talked  of  Peace  Con- 
ference to  be  Held  at  Fort  Laramie,  May,  1866. 

CHAPTER  XXXVI 

The  Bloody  Year  on  the  Plains  (Continued)   491 

Troops  Operating  Against  Savages — Divided  Into 
Small  Detachments — Red  Men  Have  Things  Their  Own 
Way — Indian  Affairs  and  the  Indian  Question — The 


862  HEWITT  PLACE,  NEW  YORK  CITY  13 

Powder  River  Campaign  Discussed  and  Determined  by 
Generals  Pope,  Dodge  and  Connor — General  Connor  Issues 
His  Instructions  to  Colonel  Cole  and  Makes  Known  His 
Plan  of  Campaign — Departure  of  the  Expedition — Cap- 
tain George  F.  Price  Left  in  Command  at  Fort  Laramie — 
Pope  Abolishes  the  District  of  the  Plains — Assigns  Con- 
nor to  the  District  of  Utah — General  F.  Wheaton  Assigned 
to  the  District  of  Nebraska  With  Headquarters  at  Fort 
Laramie — Indian  Depredations  on  the  Telegraph  and  Mail 
Line  After  General  Connor's  Departure  For  Powder 
River. 

CHAPTER  XXXVII 

Report  of  the  Powder  River  Expedition   505 

Captain  Palmer's  Diary — The  Army  of  Invasion 
Starts  North — Crossing  the  Platte  at  LaBonta's  Ranch — 
Incidents  by  the  Way — Building  of  Fort  Connor — A  Run- 
ning Fight — Twenty-Four  Indians  Killed — A  Skirmish — 
Visits  Lake  De  Smet — Something  About  Jim  Bridger — 
Battle  of  Tongue  River — Exciting  Scenes  on  the  Field 
of  Carnage — The  March  Down  Tongue  River — Anxiety 
About  Colonel  Cole's  Command — Scouring  the  Country 
For  Indians — Colonel  Cole  Heard  From  and  His  Troops 
Reported  to  Be  in  a  Starving  Condition — He  Fails  to 
Meet  General  Connor  at  the  Appointed  Place  of  Ren- 
dezvous— Return  of  the  Various  Commands  to  Fort 
Laramie. 

CHAPTER  XXXVIII 

Thrilling  Events  of  the  Bozeman  Road   541 

Mountain  District  Organized — Colonel  H.  B.  Carring- 
ton  Assumes  Command — Expedition  Moves  From  Fort 
Kearney — The  Peace  Conference  at  Fort  Laramie — Red 
Cloud's  Position  and  Brave  Words — The  March  to  Fort 
Reno— The  Building  of  the  New  Fort— Selecting  a  Site 
For  Fort  Phil.  Kearney — Erection  of  the  Post  Commenced 
— Conference  With  Hostiles — First  Encounter  With  the 
Savages — Attack  on  Train  at  Clear  Creek — Lieutenant 
Daniels  Killed— Fort  C.  F.  Smith  located— General  Hazen 
Inspects  the  Posts — Fort  Phil.  Kearney  Practically  Com- 
pleted October  31st. 

CHAPTER  XXXIX 

Thrilling  Events  of  the  Bozeman  Road  (Continued)   .560 

Description  of  Fort  Phil.  Kearney — Colonel  Carring- 
ton's  Address  and  Hoisting  the  Flag — A  Night  Attack — 
The  Garrison  Harassed  by  Night  and  by  Day — Fight  of 
December  6th,  Lieutenant  Bingham  and  Sergeant  Bowers 


14  HUDSON  BOOK  CO. 

Killed — The  Fetterman  Massacre — Eighty-One  Brave 
Men  Meet  Death — Scenes  at  the  Fort — Burial  of  the 
Dead — John  Phillips'  Daring  Ride  fdr  Help — His  Arrival 
at  Fort  Laramie — Reinforcements  Go  to  Fort  Phil. 
Kearney — Suffering  of  the  Troops  From  the  Cold  on  the 
Journey — A  Review  of  the  Causes  Which  Led  to  the 
Massacre. 

CHAPTER  XL 

Red  Cloud  Continues  the  War  1867 580 

Government  Wants  Peace — Red  Cloud  Jubilant — 
Brigadier  General  Wessels  Takes  Command  of  Fort  Phil. 
Kearney — Carrington  Goes  to  Fort  McPherson — General 
St.  George  Cooke  Removed  and  General  Augur  Assumes 
Command  of  the  Department  of  the  Platte — Report  of 
Congressional  Committee  on  the  Fetterman  Massacre — 
Red  Cloud,  With  a  Large  Force  Hovers  About  Fort  Phil. 
Kearney — Makes  Preparations  to  Storm  the  Fort — 
Major  Powell's  Desperate  Fight  With  Red  Cloud— Indians 
Severely  Beaten — Recruits  His  Forces  From  Other  Tribes 
— Spotted  Tail  Punishes  Deserters — Building  of  Fort 
Fetterman — Fort  D.  A.  Russell  Located. 

CHAPTER  XLI 

Mistaken  Policy  of  the  Government  1868   598 

Indians  Continue  Hostilities — Record  for  the  Month 
of  March — Peace  Commissioners  Assemble  at  Fort 
Laramie — Red  Cloud  Agrees  to  Terms  But  Does  Not  Sign 
— Six  Hundred  of  His  Warriors  Dissatisfied  and  With- 
draw— The  Marauding  Bands  Continue  the  War — Forts 
Reno,  Phil.  Kearney  and  C.  F.  Smith  Abandoned — 
Several  Regiments  Withdraw  From  the  Plains — General 
Sheridan  Points  Out  the  Mistakes  of  the  Peace  Policy  of 
the  Government — Indian  Troubles  Renewed — Schuyler 
Colfax's  Message  to  the  War  Department— Governor 
Hunt  of  Colorado  Asks  for  Arms — General  Sherman's 
Reply — Generals  Sheridan  and  Custer  Take  the  Field- 
Text  of  the  Sioux  Treaty — Building  of  Fort  Fred.  Steele. 

CHAPTER  XLII 

The  Territory  of  Wyoming  1868 621 

The  Building  of  a  Railroad  Necessitates  a  Govern- 
ment— The  Name  Wyoming  and  Its  Origin — The  First 
Bill  in  Congress — Dr.  Hiram  Latham  Sent  to  Washington 
as  an  Agent  of  the  People — Circular  Distributed  Among 
the  Senators  and  Members  of  the  House  of  Represent- 
atives— Bill  Passes  the  Senate — Difficulties  Encountered 


862  HEWITT  PLACE,  NEW  YORK  CITY  15 

in  the  House — It  was  Finally  Passed  and  Signed  by  the 
President — Territorial  Officers  Nominated  by  President 
Johnson  But  Not  Confirmed  by  the  Senate — Bill  Delayed 
Until  General  Grant  Becomes  President — The  Act  Organ- 
izing the  Territory. 

CHAPTER  XLIII 

South  Pass  Gold  Discoveries  1842-1869 636 

A  Georgian  Makes  the  First  Discovery  in  1842 — 
Thirteen  Years  Later  Forty  Men  Arrived  and  Made  Rich 
Discoveries — Next  Year  They  Are  Driven  Out  of  the 
Country  by  United  States  Troops — The  Attempts  at  Min- 
ing From  1858  to  1864 — Lieutenant  Brown's  Discoveries — 
Major  Baldwin  Outfits  Two  Prospectors — Organization  of 
the  Lincoln  Mining  District — Discovery  of  Carissa  in 
1867 — Killing  of  Captain  Lawrence  and  Tony  Shields  by 
Indians — Mad  Rush  to  South  Pass  in  1868 — Numerous 
Rich  Mines  Discovered  That  Year — Attack  by  Indians — 
Building  of  Sawmills  and  Quartz  Mills — Discoveries  of 
1869 — More  Indian  Depredations — Murders  of  the  Year — 
Pioneers  of  the  Camps. 

CHAPTER  XLIV 

Building  the  Union  Pacific    675 

National  Surveys — Chartered  by  Congress — Subsidy 
in  Lands — Government  Bonds  Loaned — The  Road  a 
National  Necessity — Patriotic  Private  Citizens  Furnish 
Money  and  Construct  the  Road — The  Government  Secures 
Great  Benefits  For  Which  It  Pays  Practically  Nothing — 
Incidents  in  the  History  of  Construction — Marvelous 
Speed  of  the  Track  Layers — A  Well  Organized  Army  of 
Builders — Building  Across  Wyoming — Bear  River  Riot — 
Close  of  1868. 

CHAPTER  XLV 

Pioneers  and  Origin  of  Names   685 

August  Lucius,  First  Government  Interpreter  at  Fort 
Laramie — Sergeant  Leodiger  Schneider — Ward  and 
Guerrier  and  Other  Post  Traders  at  Fort  Laramie — 
James  Baker —  Origin  of  the  Name  of  Independence  Rock 
— Richard  Wootten  in  Wyoming — Origin  of  the  Name 
Platte  River — B.  F.  Lowe,  Henry  Perri — Old  Trappers 
and  Traders — Origin  of  Names  of  Big  Horn  River  and 
Mountains,  Big  Wind  River,  Wind  River  Range,  Shoshone 
Range,  Popo  Agie  Rivers,  Teton  Range  and  Peaks — Climb- 
ing the  Grand  Teton. 


16  HUDSON  BOOK  CO. 

As  will  be  seen  from  the  foregoing  pages,  the  book 
is  one  which1  will  at  once  take  rank  with  the  first  authori- 
ties, and  indeed,  for  some  phases  of  Western  History  and 
Incident,  be  the  only  source  available. 

It  was  intended  to  supplement  the  work  with  a  vol- 
ume of  biographical  sketches  and  an  index,  but  these 
were  never  written,  owing  to  the  death  of  the  author. 
It  is  however  a  matter  of  keen  satisfaction  to  know  that 
he  was  spared  long  enough  to  write  the  historical  por- 
tion, and  see  a  small  edition  issue  from  the  Press. 

The  Volume  was  then  carefully  stored  away  to  await 
the  preparation  of  these  unwritten  additions,  and  has 
remained, ,  from  that  day  to  this,  in  the  vaults  of  a 
Western  bank,  hidden  and  unknown. 

We  append  below  an  Order  Form  which  can  be  filled 
out  and  mailed  and  suggest  that  this  be  done  AT  AN 
EARLY  DATE,  as  the  edition  is  but  a  small  one  and  the 
book  one  which  is  absolutely  essential  to  any  working 
library  relating  to  the  West. 

We  will  gladly  forward  the  volume  subject  to  ex- 
amination and  approval. 

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HUDSON  BOOK  COMPANY. 

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New  York  City 

Dear  Sirs :    Please  forward Copies,  Coutant's 

History  of  Wyoming  and  the  Far  West.  8vo,  pp.  712. 
illus.  with  2  maps  and  76  plates.  Laramie,  1899.  Price 
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